Quarrying
One of the machines is equipped with a Liebherr quick coupler and ripper tooth attachment to loosen some of the harder seams found at the quarry. And as the hardness of the material being excavated varies across the site, the two machines are regularly moved around with the ripper-equipped machine tackling the tougher, more stubborn areas of chalk.
Immense force is exerted through the machine when digging and ripping the virgin material and both excavators remain firmly planted to the quarry floor thanks to the heavy-duty undercarriage. The mass excavation equipment gives the Liebherr a maximum reach of almost 14 m at ground level and a potential dig depth of up to 8 m, which is ideal for maintaining the bench heights at the quarry.
The 5.5 m3 buckets were specially designed following a visit to site from the technical team from Liebherr’s excavator manufacturing facility in Colmar, France, to ensure that they gave maximum durability and breakout force.
The R 984 C has now been superseded in the Liebherr product portfolio by two machines: the R 9100 with an operating weight
of around 110 tonnes and an R 9150 with an operating weight of around 130 tonnes. Both models are fitted
with Liebherr D 9512 V12 engines, achieve Tier 4i emissions standards and deliver significantly
stronger breakout forces. Last year Alf Kitchings Ltd placed an order for two R 9150 B
excavators the first of which arrived to site early March 2019 with the second
following closely behind.
www.hub-4.com March 2019 - Issue 55
| p85 |